Machine for manufacturing hose or tubes.



No. 791,729. 9 y PATENTBD JUNE C, 1905. UIA 99EUR.

MACHINE PCR MANUFACTURING HosIrLCR TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15,' 190s. V

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Il [l v Y .3513 fvoznm M PATENTED JUNE 6, V1965. E. D. SPEER. MACHINEFORMANUEAGTURING HOSE 0R TUBES.

4 SHEETS-SHEET' 2.

APPLICATION IIEILED MAY 15, 190,3,

MIIII i Mcuoemtoz @321g Uil-Houma? v M wud/wwe@ e V JM @Caml/mama VZW/No. 791,729. PATNTEDJUNB e, 1905.

E. n. SPBBB.

MACHINE EUR MANUFACTURING HOSE 0R. TUBES.

APPLITION FILED MAY 15, 1903.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

,mm V2M 7l l d a 110,791,729. l j f PATENTBDJUNE,19o5.

E. D. SPEER. A

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING HOSE 0R TUBES.

' APPLI'OATION FILED MAY 15, 190s.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD D. SPEER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING HOS'ETAOR TUBESl SPECIFICATION' forming partof Letters Patent No.'791,729, dated J' une 6, 1905.

Application filed May 15, 1903. Serial No. 157,300.

T0 all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that-1, EDWARD D. SPEER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city of New York,State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Manufacturing Hose or Tubes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to machines for manufacturing hose or tubes, andparticularly conduits for electric wires.

While the principles of the construction of the machine are particularlyadapted to manufacturing conduits for electric wires, they are alsoapplicable to machines for manufacturing all tubes and pipes whichcontain an inner longitudinal lining on which is a reinforcingwinding ofa filamentary body and weatherproof coating, like pitch, which willharden when cold or dry, and the machine' is therefore not limited toany particular class of tubing. A

Essentially, it consists, first, in the combination, in a machine formanufacturing tubes, of a hollow mandrel onwhich the inner lining isformed and means for maintaining a circulation of cooling medium throughthe mandrel to harden the plastic coating' substance, sov

that said substance will not stick the lining to the mandrel and so thatthe windings will not embed too deeply in the coating substance; second,in a machine of the kind described, of means for coating the lining withsaid plastic substance;third, in a machine of the kind described, ofmeans for winding on the reinforcing-windings; fourth, in a machine ofthe kind described, of a device for feeding the completed tube along asit is formed; fifth, in the combination of said cooling, coating,winol-`ing, andfeeding devices, and with such other elements as are necessaryto produce an operative machine for any given kind of tubing.

The drawings which accompany the specification illustrate a machinewhich is particularly adapted to the manufacture of conduits forelectric-light wires, such asis described in United States LettersPatent No. 693,916, dated February 25, 1902; but the invention is notlimited to machines for such'specific purpose.

Referring to the said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the machine. yFig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of the same..

Fig. 3 is a broken longitudinal vertical'section and elevation, on alarge scale, of the parts of the machine to the left of Fig. 2 andincluding the smear-pot 70. In this view the sifter-box isl shownprovided with a rotary conical cam 18 for shaking the sitter-box.` Fig.4: is a broken longitudinal vertical sec-V tion and elevation of certainparts at the cenlter and to the right of Fig. 2 and indicating lone setof picker-teeth 104105.

mandrel. This figure also indicates the wind-- ings of the conduit. Fig.8 is a cross-section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

A B are respectively the bed-plate and sup- 4 ports of the machine.

C is the counter-shaft, controlled by the friction-clutch D and driventhrough said clutch frompulley E.

The strip 1 of canvas or other suitable iieXible material which formsthe inner longitudinal lining of the conduit having been first treatedwith fireproofing solution, if so desired, (and previously having beencut to proper width,) and dried is unwound from reel 2 and drawn throughthe machine by the feed devices or picker-teeth, as hereinafterdescribed, 3 3 being brackets inwhich the axle ofreel 2 is supported.From reel 2 said strip 1 goes through a sheet-metal former 5, Figs. 2,3, and 5, supported by a bracket 7 and having its front end curvedconcentric to a hollow mandrel 8. As said strip 1 is drawn through saidformer 5 it is curved around said. mandrel 8, the edges of said strippreferably making a butt-joint. Just as said strip 1 enters said former5 powdered soapstone or other lubricant is sifted on the strip from asifterbox 10, which is shaken by the cam 12 on shaft C, intermittentlyengaging a roller 13 on alever 15, which carries sitter-box 10, Fig. z1.In Fig. 3 the sifter-box is shown as pivotally supported at 16 andshaken by a cam 18, which is driven by a pulley 19 and a belt frompulley on shaft C. Any other means of shaking the shifter-box can ofcourse be employed. rIhe soapstone has the twofold advantage ofdiminishing the friction of the strip 1 on the mandrel 8 and also ofsmoothing the inner surface of the conduit. Said mandrel 8 is positionedby collars 24 24, which are arranged at the perforated cross-piece 26,carried on the standard 27, set-screws 29 29 xing said mandrel 8 in saidcollars 24. Said mandrel 8 extends a little forward of the picker-teeth128 129 and is closed by a solid plug 32. An open-end pipe 34 extendsaxially through said mandrel 8 from the hollow plug 35, in which is adrip 37, to near the front end of said mandrel. At its rear end saidpipe 34 is connected with a reservoir containing a cooling medium, asice-water. In the drawings the reservoir 40 contains a siphon 41, whichis connected with pipe 34 by a rubber sleeve 42, said siphon beingstarted by suction. The cooling medium being delivered to the front endof mandrel 8 by pipe 34 flows back through said mandrel to the drip 37,thereby cooling said mandrel and strip 1 for the purpose hereinafterexplained. The escaping fluid is caught in any suitable receptacle. (Notshown.) Just in front of said former 5 the strip' 1 receives apreliminary winding to hold said strip 1 closed around mandrel 8 withthread 5() from spools 52, carried on a pulley 54, which is driven by abelt 55 from a pulley 57 on shaft C. Said pulley 54 is carried on ahollow hub 60 concentric to mandrel 8 and turning with collar 61 in box62, carried on a standard 63, Figs. 2 and 3. The thread 50 is guidedthrough the eyes of brackets 64, fixed on said pulley 54, and 66 66 arethe common spring tensions for the spools 52. The drawings show the saidspools on the same pulley and revolving in the same direction; but theycan of course be on separate pulleys revolving in opposite directions,whereby the threads cross each other,and if one breaks the otherprevents it from unwinding. A short distance in front of said spools 52is the smear-box 70, which contains any suitable waterproofingcomposition in a liquid or viscous condition, such a composition, forexample, as is described in United States Letters Patent No. 693,916,dated February 25,

are heated by gas-burners, 75 being the burners for vessel 72 and theburners for box 7 O not being shown. Said smear-box 70 is supported on astandard 76 and is preferably made with an upper and a lower part 77 78,said parts being united on a horizontal line through the center ofmandrel 8. The front and rear walls of each part of said smear-box 70have half-round holes 8O 81 at the joint, so that when said parts areunited round holes are formed of such size as to allow the strip 1 topass through the smear-box around mandrel 8 with easy lit. The two partsof the smear-box are held together by bolts, and by taking off the upperpart the box is easily cleaned. As the strip 1 moves forward through thesmear-box 70 it is coated by the waterproof composition, as indicatedbythe round shaded part of said strip to the right of thewinding-threads in Fig. 3, and there is no objectionable leakage of thecomposition from the smear-box. As the composition touches the strip 1,which, as well as mandrel 8, is cooled by the circulating iiuid. in themandrel, said composition hardens quickly and does not pass through thebutt-joint of the strip 1 to the mandrel, and therefore the said stripis not stuck to the mandrel. Said cooling of the mandrel and the stripis avery important feature of the machine.

In front of smear-box 70 are the revolving spools 82 of the windingdevice, which winds the reinforcing-cord 83 around the smeared strip 1.Said spools are carried on axle-pins at the ends of arms 85, which areixed on a revolving head 86. The long hollow hub 88 of said head 86turns in a long box 90, supported on a standard 89, concentric tomandrel 8, and has a gear 91, driven by a gear 92 on shaft C. There arepreferably four said spools, arranged to make a close winding of cordaround strip 1, as shown, Figs. 2 and 5. From the spools said cord 83 isled through the tensions to said strip 1. Each of said tensions consistsof two blocks 94 95, block 95 being xed to an arm 96, carried by head86, and block 94 is drawn toward block 95 by the spring 97, coiledaround pin 98, which is fixed to block 94 and has a working lit throughblock 95. At their meeting edges said blocks 94 95 have half-roundholes, which are smaller than cord 83, so that said blocks putthe propertension on the cord, as will be clearly understood. Said mandrel isprovided with reamerteeth 93 at the part where the spools 82 wind oncord 83-that is, from about :u to y, Fig. 4. Said teeth 98 are inclined,as shown, to resist the tendency of the rotary spools 82 to twist thestrip 1 on mandrel 8, and for convenience in construction said teeth arepreferably formed on a short separate section 100 of the said mandrel 8,sleeves 10 at the ends of said short section 100 being itted in andsecured to the ends of the long pieces of said IOO lIO

n arbor 8, as clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 7, and tocompensate forthe slight reduction of circumference ofthe polygon which circumscribessaid teeth the section 100 is madeof a little greater diameter than thepart of mandrel 8 which is to the left of Asaid section 100, while thepart of said mandrel to the right of said section 100 is still furtherslightly reduced in diameter to facilitate the feed of the strip forwardover the end of said mandrel.

A short distance in front of the teeth 98 are the first set ofvpicker-teeth, which term signifies rolls 104 105, provided with concaveperipheries, in which are set sharp pins 106, as is common in pickers.The pins are long enough to just catch into strip 1. Said rolls 104 105are fixed on cross-shafts 109 110, respectively above and below saidmandrel 8. Said shafts 109 110 have intermeshing gears 112.113, sothateach roll is driven at the same speed, and a worm-gear 115 on shaft110 is driven by a worm 116 on a counter-shaft 117, which is finallydriven by'a train of gears 120 121 122 from shaft C. By changing gear120 .the speed of the picker-teeth can be varied to suit the speed ofthe winding-spools 82, so as to keep the windings of cord 83 close andfiat on strip l. A short distance in front of the aforesaid picker-teeth106 is a second set of similar picker-teeth 128 129 in general arrangedand driven in the same manner as the former set. The speed of both setsof said picker-teeth is the same and is a little greater than the rateat which the spools 82 wind the cord on the strip 1, so that thepicker-teeth pull said strip rapidly enough to prevent the windings ofthe cord from overlapping, and' there is an advantage in having two setsof vof the cord over the strip.

picker-teeth, since this prevents the pulling The shafts of thepicker-teeth and of the worms turn in boXes carried by the standards 135136. distance in front of the second setof pickerteeth the. mandrel 8terminates, and the conduit, which is now hard and dry, feeds off to thefloor or to winding-reels and is ready to receive its kouter braidedcovering. The braiding is performed in the wellknown braiding-machines,which may be in another part of the factory and are not shown in theaccompanying' drawings, though they might.- be on the same bed-frame asthe machine here v shown and driven in unisonv therewith, so as to takethe conduit from mandrel 8 andcover it.

The process of manufacturing the conduit is not herein more particularlydescribed or claimed, said process being set forth in an- 4otherapplication for United States Letters A shortv bricating the mandrel aformer for shaping'a tube on the mandrel, a winding device forreinforcing the tube, means for coating the tube, and means formaintaining the circulation of `a cooling medium in the mandrel,substantially as described. l

2. The combination in a machine of the kind described, of a hollowmandrel, a former for shaping a tube on the mandrel, means for lu-Ybricating the mandrel, means for coating the tube, two winding devices,one for holding the tube on the mandrel and one for reinforcing thetube, and means for maintaining circulation of a cooling medium in themandrel, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a hollowmandrel for forming a tube, means for lubricating the mandrel, means forcoating the tube, a winding device for reinforcing the tube, meansoperating in unison with the winding device for moving the tube on themandrel, and means for maintaining circulation of a cooling medium inthe mandrel, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a mandrelfor forming a tube, a winding device for reinforcing the tube, androtary pickerteeth operating in unison with the winding device formoving the tube on the mandrel, substantially as described. Y

5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a mandrel forforming a tube, a winding device f or reinforcing the tube, and

,two sets of rotary picker-teeth operating in unison with the windingdevice for moving the tubeon the mandrel, substantially as de- IOO thetube on the mandrel, substantially as ldescribed. 7.v In a machine' ofthe kind described, the combination of a mandrel, and a former for pforming a tube, means for lubricating the mandrel, means for coating thetube, winding devices for applying lilamentary bodies to the tube, andtwo sets of picker-teeth operating in unison with the winding devicesfor mov.

ing the tube on the mandrel, substantially as described. l

. 8. In a machine of thev kind described, the combination of a mandrelfor forming a tube, a receptacle for a coating composition for the tube,means for heating the receptacle and means for cooling the mandrel,substantially as described -9. In a machine of the kind described, thecombination of a hollow mandrel for forming IlO a tube, a receptacle fora coating composition ing device for Winding' a {ilamentary body on IOfor the tube, means for heating the reoeptasaid mandrel, substantiallyas described. cle,` and means for maintaining circulation of Signed atNew York this 11th day of Fehacooling mediumin the mandrehsubstantiallyruary, 1903.

5 as described.

10. In a machine of the kind described, the EDWARD D' SP1 CER'combination of a mandrel on which a tube is Witnesses: formed providedwith teeth to prevent the TAYLOR MORE,

tube from twisting on the mandrel, and a wind- DAVID VVALTRR BROWN.

